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The news broke in December last year: France is now allowed to research natural hydrogen reserves, also known as "white hydrogen", covering an area of 225 km² in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region. President Emmanuel Macron has announced substantial funding to explore the potential of white hydrogen, a natural, and cleaner energy, emphasizing its role in decarbonization.
Hydrogen could play a crucial role in transport and other industries, bringing with it new promises for the future: social, environmental and economic.
The production cost of hydrogen has always been a hurdle for Europe, with the currently prevalent "grey hydrogen" being produced from fossil fuels. On a pollution scale, grey hydrogen also emits large amounts of CO2. Thus, France is willing to dig deeper to generate new ideas. They aim to invest 9 billion euros in electrolysis-based hydrogen production by 2030, even though this method would now be much more costly for the country. However, experts affirm the newly authorized white hydrogen would potentially be three times less expensive than grey hydrogen on a day-to-day production basis, transforming the energy landscape in France.
France holds several potential deposits for white hydrogen, with additional exploration permits under consideration. It has granted exploration permits, with companies like TBH 2 Aquitaine, Storengy, or 45-8 Energy. A clear sign of a growing interest in natural hydrogen.
Extracting hydrogen from the subsoil, principally using water, is a known technique. Yet, concerns about potential environmental impacts have been raised: some environmental associations say caution is advised, considering the need to avoid disrupting natural cycles during extraction.
However, the French government could be greedy: the economic potential of white hydrogen in France is substantial and could provide a significant boost to the country's economy. The economic benefits of white hydrogen could indeed be crucial for France, given its limited hydrocarbon resources.
By mid-century, hydrogen is projected to constitute 20% to 25% of global energy consumption, a significant increase from the current 1%. In France, hydrogen could represent a fifth of energy demand by 2050, according to estimates by France Hydrogène. Industry, a major consumer of grey hydrogen, could benefit from an impressive growth: in the end, sales could reach 40 billion euros and white hydrogen production could employ over 150,000 people by mid-century.
France's exploration of white hydrogen then presents a promising opportunity for the country to become a pioneer in clean energy. The economic, environmental, and decarbonization benefits associated with white hydrogen could significantly impact various sectors, positioning France as a key player in the evolving landscape of hydrogen-based energy solutions.
If the predictions are right, studies indicate massive flows of hydrogen, potentially accounting for a quarter of current global consumption. A production that could last for the next 170,000 years, according to French scientists. Well, how long does it take to reach the center of Earth?
